Some characteristics of this engine (Note that, because the exhaust gas is of course not normal air, γ and R have different values! They are also given in the table):

Variable Value
Pressure in combustion chamber 9.7 MPa
Temperature in combustion chamber 3685 K
Pressure at nozzle exit 1 atm (= 101325.0 Pa)
Throat area 0.05
y 1.14
R 378.00
Calculate the thrust generated by one engine in kN.
Assume isentropic flow.

Some characteristics of this engine (Note that, because the exhaust gas is of course not normal air, γ and R have different values! They are also given in the table):

Variable Value
Pressure in combustion chamber 9.7 MPa
Temperature in combustion chamber 3685 K
Pressure at nozzle exit 1 atm (= 101325.0 Pa)
Throat area 0.05
y 1.14
R 378.00
Calculate the thrust generated by one engine in kN.
Assume isentropic flow.

1 answer

To calculate the thrust generated by the engine, we can use the following formula for thrust in a rocket engine, which accounts for the mass flow rate of the exhaust gas and the velocity of the exhaust at the nozzle.

  1. First, we need to calculate the speed of sound (\(a\)) in the combustion chamber, using the equation: \[ a = \sqrt{\gamma \cdot R \cdot T} \] where:

    • \(\gamma = 1.14\)
    • \(R = 378.00 , \text{J/(kg·K)}\)
    • \(T = 3685 , \text{K}\)

    Let's calculate \(a\): \[ a = \sqrt{1.14 \cdot 378.00 \cdot 3685} \]

    \[ a = \sqrt{(1.14 \cdot 378.00 \cdot 3685)} = \sqrt{1430969.92} \approx 1196.26 , \text{m/s} \]

  2. Next, we will calculate the exit velocity (\(v_e\)) at the nozzle exit, using the equation for isentropic flow: \[ v_e = a \cdot \sqrt{ \frac{2 \cdot \gamma}{\gamma - 1} \left( \left( \frac{P_0}{P_e} \right)^{\frac{\gamma - 1}{\gamma}} - 1 \right) } \] where:

    • \(P_0 = 9.7 , \text{MPa} = 9700000 , \text{Pa}\)
    • \(P_e = 101325 , \text{Pa}\)

    We can now compute: \[ v_e = 1196.26 \cdot \sqrt{ \frac{2 \cdot 1.14}{1.14 - 1} \left( \left( \frac{9700000}{101325} \right)^{\frac{1.14 - 1}{1.14}} - 1 \right) } \]

    We first compute: \[ \frac{9700000}{101325} \approx 95.9 \]

    Then, we calculate: \[ \left( 95.9 \right)^{\frac{0.14}{1.14}} \approx 1.52 \]

    So, substituting back, we find: \[ v_e = 1196.26 \cdot \sqrt{ \frac{2 \cdot 1.14}{0.14} \cdot (1.52 - 1) } \] \[ = 1196.26 \cdot \sqrt{ \approx 16.33 \cdot 0.52 } \] \[ = 1196.26 \cdot \sqrt{8.58} = 1196.26 \cdot 2.93 \approx 3504.67 , \text{m/s} \]

  3. Next, we calculate the mass flow rate (\( \dot{m} \)): \[ \dot{m} = \rho \cdot A \cdot v \] where:

    • \(A = 0.05 , \text{m}^2\)
    • \(P_0\) is the chamber pressure and we can find the density using the ideal gas law: \[ \rho = \frac{P_0}{R \cdot T_0} \]

    \[ \rho = \frac{9700000}{378.00 \cdot 3685} \approx 7.092, \text{kg/m}^3 \]

    Therefore: \[ \dot{m} = 7.092 \cdot 0.05 \cdot 3504.67 \approx 1247.30 , \text{kg/s} \]

  4. Finally, we can calculate the thrust (\(F\)): \[ F = \dot{m} \cdot v_e + (P_e - P_amb) \cdot A \]

    Where \(P_{amb}\) (atmospheric pressure) is typically \(101325 , \text{Pa}\), and: \[ F \approx 1247.30 \cdot 3504.67 + (101325 - 101325) \cdot 0.05 \] \[ F \approx 4375603.91 , \text{N} \]

    Finally, converting from N to kN: \[ F \approx 4375.60, \text{kN} \]

Therefore, the thrust generated by the engine is approximately 4375.6 kN.